Holy Saturday April 7, 2007
Holy Saturday
April 7, 2007
“The women found the stone rolled back from the tomb; but when the entered the tomb, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
Luke 24:2
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Exciting News!!! Fr. John Amsberry's book is finished! Check out a little taste of it following todays message.
We all want to know what is on the other side. What will it all be like for us, say, one hundred years from now? How much different will it be? Will it be better? Sometimes, and I think wrongly, we compartmentalize and say the other side is for the other side and this side is for this side. But, the other side has come to this side to pour out the other side with this side. Jesus has come to share the mercy, life and love of heaven (the other side) with us as we journey on this side (earth to heaven). So, we believe that the heaven is with us, all the way to heaven. Yes, the women come to the tomb to find the body of the Lord Jesus not there. Our faith holds that Jesus has been raised from the dead to the other side. But in his rising, instead of being further separated, the two sides are eternally brought together in the deepest unity possible which is what we call God. Often I think we think that the other side is for the other side and we have to wait till we get to the other side to experience it when Christ wants us to know it now. Of course, as always, each step of the way we can choose to join this perfectly loving union or reject it.
In the early practice of the mass, as the bread and wine were being prepared to be changed in to the body and blood of Jesus through the consecration, the priest would pour some wine into the water. There was a very practical reason for doing this. The wine was thick and the water was poured in to loosen it up. Since then, a spiritual significance has been added to that practical practice. Now, when I (and every other priest) pour a little water into the wine at each mass in preparation for the consecration, I pray the words, “Through this mingling of the water and wine may we come to share the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” Talk about the other side coming to this side! Talk about Jesus inviting us to share in the eternal loving union of Father, Son and Holy Spirit right now and all the way to heaven! We are the little bit of water that is poured into the wine that will become the blood of Jesus. Humanity is poured into the blood of Jesus and Jesus devours our sins as we share in the eternal love exchange of the Trinity!
When will we let ourselves be devoured by divinity?
True story. As I made my way through airport security, there was a guard standing on the other side of the metal detector. As I cleared the metal detector, the guard looked at me kind of sternly and started to talk. I thought, “Oh no! Am I in trouble? Are they going to stop and search me?” I did not want to stop as I had a plane to catch. His words were this, “It is 3:08 and you are loved!” Yes, I believe. I responded to him, “And you are loved, too! Who are you?” It turned out to be a parishioner from my first parish that I served. How cool is that? So, I have been pondering this exchange. What waits for us on the other side?
Jesus waits for us on the other side. Jesus, whether we are walking through metal detectors at airports or walking down the isle for our wedding or walking through the suffering or death of a loved one or anytime as we walk through our days on earth, is waiting for us. And as we walk through our days, let us remember to walk to him just on the other side. Jesus, right on the other side of the metal detector in the airport, as in all other places on this side and in the now, says, “It is 3:08(or whatever time it is) and you are loved. You are loved by me and I am the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are loved by me, your Savior and Friend. You are loved by me, your Hope and Life. You are loved by me, the Healer of your soul. And I am on your side, right now and always. I am leading you to the other side. You are so often devoured by your emptiness, sin and unhappiness. Will you let me devour you in my divinity?”
Brothers and sisters, how about praying this mantra over and over again all the way to the other side? How about praying and being and doing and living this pray as Jesus is with us on this side to take us to the other side? Here it is, “Confession and Eucharist- all the way to heaven.”
Be devoured by divinity.
Confession and Eucharist- all the way to heaven.
Live the confronted life!
+Fr. John
We all want to know what is on the other side. What will it all be like for us, say, one hundred years from now? How much different will it be? Will it be better? Sometimes, and I think wrongly, we compartmentalize and say the other side is for the other side and this side is for this side. But, the other side has come to this side to pour out the other side with this side. Jesus has come to share the mercy, life and love of heaven (the other side) with us as we journey on this side (earth to heaven). So, we believe that the heaven is with us, all the way to heaven. Yes, the women come to the tomb to find the body of the Lord Jesus not there. Our faith holds that Jesus has been raised from the dead to the other side. But in his rising, instead of being further separated, the two sides are eternally brought together in the deepest unity possible which is what we call God. Often I think we think that the other side is for the other side and we have to wait till we get to the other side to experience it when Christ wants us to know it now. Of course, as always, each step of the way we can choose to join this perfectly loving union or reject it.
In the early practice of the mass, as the bread and wine were being prepared to be changed in to the body and blood of Jesus through the consecration, the priest would pour some wine into the water. There was a very practical reason for doing this. The wine was thick and the water was poured in to loosen it up. Since then, a spiritual significance has been added to that practical practice. Now, when I (and every other priest) pour a little water into the wine at each mass in preparation for the consecration, I pray the words, “Through this mingling of the water and wine may we come to share the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity.” Talk about the other side coming to this side! Talk about Jesus inviting us to share in the eternal loving union of Father, Son and Holy Spirit right now and all the way to heaven! We are the little bit of water that is poured into the wine that will become the blood of Jesus. Humanity is poured into the blood of Jesus and Jesus devours our sins as we share in the eternal love exchange of the Trinity!
When will we let ourselves be devoured by divinity?
True story. As I made my way through airport security, there was a guard standing on the other side of the metal detector. As I cleared the metal detector, the guard looked at me kind of sternly and started to talk. I thought, “Oh no! Am I in trouble? Are they going to stop and search me?” I did not want to stop as I had a plane to catch. His words were this, “It is 3:08 and you are loved!” Yes, I believe. I responded to him, “And you are loved, too! Who are you?” It turned out to be a parishioner from my first parish that I served. How cool is that? So, I have been pondering this exchange. What waits for us on the other side?
Jesus waits for us on the other side. Jesus, whether we are walking through metal detectors at airports or walking down the isle for our wedding or walking through the suffering or death of a loved one or anytime as we walk through our days on earth, is waiting for us. And as we walk through our days, let us remember to walk to him just on the other side. Jesus, right on the other side of the metal detector in the airport, as in all other places on this side and in the now, says, “It is 3:08(or whatever time it is) and you are loved. You are loved by me and I am the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are loved by me, your Savior and Friend. You are loved by me, your Hope and Life. You are loved by me, the Healer of your soul. And I am on your side, right now and always. I am leading you to the other side. You are so often devoured by your emptiness, sin and unhappiness. Will you let me devour you in my divinity?”
Brothers and sisters, how about praying this mantra over and over again all the way to the other side? How about praying and being and doing and living this pray as Jesus is with us on this side to take us to the other side? Here it is, “Confession and Eucharist- all the way to heaven.”
Be devoured by divinity.
Confession and Eucharist- all the way to heaven.
Live the confronted life!
+Fr. John
______________________________________________________________
Reaching Out to Joy!Exciting News!!! Fr. John Amsberry's book is finished! Check out a little taste of it below and if you would like to order one or 1,000 just follow the ordering instructions below. If you are in Portland, Oregon, we will have a book release/signing the first weekend of June, 2007 at St. Joseph the Worker so you can get a copy then. They will also be available through the parish office after the first weekend in June. For my friends in Flagstaff, Arizona, who have already signed up for my book, we will be sending books to St. Francis De Asis Church and they will also be available at your book store next door to Nativity Church. The books should be there by Mid-May. For my loved ones in San Diego, I will have them available for you at the end of July when I come down for Steubenville, San Diego. Otherwise, you can order though the mail. Thanks for all your help, love and prayers with this project! Loved, Blessed and 4given are we!
Time out! Why are you running around so crazy here on earth? Slow down. Stop. Be still and know that God is God. Reach out to God. You are forever blessed, loved, and forgiven! Do you know this in your heart? Heaven is with you- all the way to heaven. Reach out to Jesus! Put Jesus over you and you will have JOY! My prayer is that this book will help you to jump into the JOY that is everlasting.
You are familiar St. Paul’s writings, correct? Sometimes one line can become very long and convoluted and even turn almost a whole chapter of a book. He would not get an “A” for grammar. But, in some ways I say, “So what? Big deal. He does not have to be perfect.” Some say he wrote in the imperfect manner that he did because he was so full of grace that it was uncontainable and spilling out all over the place. Welling up with grace and words and light and life, St. Paul just filled the page as God rushed forth! And that is the way I would like you to look at this book. It is not perfect but neither am I. This book is about a perfectly loving God coming to save a sinner like me and you. It is about God rushing in with his grace and words and light and life to create this book, however imperfect it might be. So, I pray that God will be uncontainable in you and you will not worry so much about having perfect presentation and grammar in your life. You do not have to have your house in order for God to come in. Rather, invite God into your messy house and he will put it into order. Just, without ever stopping, keep letting God in and out. Let God and his JOY write straight with crooked lines. When people see you, may they see JOY!
If you wish to purchase Reaching Out to Joy, Jesus Over You please fill out the order form below and send to the address listed along with you payment.
Name: _______________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________
City:__________________________________
State: _______Zip:________________
Please send me _________ Books @ $20.00 each _______________
Shipping $ 4.00 for first book _______________
For each additional book add $1.00 _______________
Total _______________
Please mail order with payment to: Reaching Out to Joy
6012 SE Parkview Terr
Milwaukie, OR 97222
Make checks payable to: Fr. John Amsberry
Time out! Why are you running around so crazy here on earth? Slow down. Stop. Be still and know that God is God. Reach out to God. You are forever blessed, loved, and forgiven! Do you know this in your heart? Heaven is with you- all the way to heaven. Reach out to Jesus! Put Jesus over you and you will have JOY! My prayer is that this book will help you to jump into the JOY that is everlasting.
You are familiar St. Paul’s writings, correct? Sometimes one line can become very long and convoluted and even turn almost a whole chapter of a book. He would not get an “A” for grammar. But, in some ways I say, “So what? Big deal. He does not have to be perfect.” Some say he wrote in the imperfect manner that he did because he was so full of grace that it was uncontainable and spilling out all over the place. Welling up with grace and words and light and life, St. Paul just filled the page as God rushed forth! And that is the way I would like you to look at this book. It is not perfect but neither am I. This book is about a perfectly loving God coming to save a sinner like me and you. It is about God rushing in with his grace and words and light and life to create this book, however imperfect it might be. So, I pray that God will be uncontainable in you and you will not worry so much about having perfect presentation and grammar in your life. You do not have to have your house in order for God to come in. Rather, invite God into your messy house and he will put it into order. Just, without ever stopping, keep letting God in and out. Let God and his JOY write straight with crooked lines. When people see you, may they see JOY!
If you wish to purchase Reaching Out to Joy, Jesus Over You please fill out the order form below and send to the address listed along with you payment.
Name: _______________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________
Address: _____________________________________________
City:__________________________________
State: _______Zip:________________
Please send me _________ Books @ $20.00 each _______________
Shipping $ 4.00 for first book _______________
For each additional book add $1.00 _______________
Total _______________
Please mail order with payment to: Reaching Out to Joy
6012 SE Parkview Terr
Milwaukie, OR 97222
Make checks payable to: Fr. John Amsberry
posted by Patti @ 6:38 AM
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